State of Origin: Maroons and Blues put sentimentality aside as Mal Meninga honoured in bronze

Updated
Wed 28 May 2014, 2:06 PM AEST

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Honoured in bronze ... Queensland coach Mal Meninga with his statue outside Lang Park after it was unveiled this morning.

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Queensland is determined to put sentimentality aside and concentrate on beating the Blues in tonight's 100th State of Origin match at Lang Park.

A pre-game spectacle, including a tribute to Maroons great Arthur Beetson, a milestone for Queensland captain Cameron Smith and a statue unveiled of Maroons coach Mal Meninga will not distract the team in their quest for a ninth successive Origin series.

Tonight Beetson's four grandchildren will lead the Maroons onto the field. His number 11 jersey will be retired for the match.

A humble Meninga, who will make his 54th appearance for Queensland as a player or coach tonight, this morning attended the unveiling of his statue outside Lang Park by Queensland premier Campbell Newman.

Smith will tonight equal Wally Lewis's record of 31 appearances for the Queensland Origin side. He was presented with a watch by the team on Tuesday night acknowledging his Queensland milestone but he will have his game face on when he leads the 100th Origin Maroons side out onto Lang Park tonight.

Assistant coach Michael Hagan said the team will enjoy the occasion surrounding tonight's 100th game but at the forefront of the players' minds is their own performance.